Chapter 4
Brandon has arrived to pick up Cassie, so Im waiting at the bar to get us all one final drink before we go home. Im torn between choosing a margarita or a Canadian Club. But when I see Dallas approach me, my body stiffens, with nowhere to escape. I’m trapped between the bar and a wall. I had hoped I would be able to get through tonight without an awkward interaction with him. It was bad enough I was forced to be a professional and continue performing with him for the last week. Every time I had to kiss him it would make me feel physically ill, but I did it because I’m a professional.
He places a hand on my hip like it’s supposed to be there and drops his head close to mine, causing me to flinch and try to move away. “We did well tonight, Gigi baby, you should come home with me to celebrate.”
The stench of stale beer on his breath makes my skin crawl. “Nope,” I mutter, shoving his arm off me, hopefully showing him how uninterested I am in discussing this or anything else with a fuckwit like him.
He doesn’t take my not-so-subtle hint; instead, he moves so he’s in between me and the bar where I’m waiting patiently to get the bartender’s attention. “You know I didn’t mean to hurt you last week. It’s just I’m not up for anything serious, and you were obviously way too invested in me. It was the best way to let you down easily.” He picks up a lock of my hair, twirling it through his fingers. “We can still have a little fun, though,” he says, like he was trying to do me a favor and now I’m being ungrateful.
I can’t help the bitter laugh that escapes me. “You think getting some girl to suck your dick, knowing I was about to walk in on you, was a good way to tell me it was over between us? Wow. You are more delusional than I thought.”
“Come on, Gigi baby, it doesn’t have to be like that between us. I want you by my side for the next show,” he whines, moving all over the place as he does. He’s clearly intoxicated.
My heart thumps loudly in my chest as I stare back at him in disbelief. I don’t want to cause a scene here in front of everyone I worked with for the last year, but who on earth does he think he is? “Good luck with your next show, Dallas,” I tell him in a clipped tone. It’s the best I can do not to really let him have it and tell him exactly how I feel.
Turning away from the bar I go to walk away from the asshole. I don’t need a drink that badly. The night has taken a bad turn now anyway, so maybe it’s best we go home.
He pushes past me, taking one of my shoulders so I can’t get away from him. “Don’t walk away from me, baby. I was talking to you,” he demands. The way he’s looking at me makes me uncomfortable. I’ve seen his temper flare when things didn’t go his way. It was never directed at me, but I guess I was a pretty easygoing girlfriend and didn’t give him any reason to lose his shit.
“What do you want?” I sigh, feeling frustrated.
His grip on me softens, and he brushes his hand over my shoulder, stroking me like I’m a silly kitten. “Maybe I made a mistake last week.”
I stare back at him, looking over his pretty-boy features for why on earth he thinks I’m the kind of girl who would be that vapid. I might not like to cause a fuss and erupt into a furious rage like I probably should, but I know my worth, and I have boundaries. I would never consider going back to someone who had treated me so badly. “You did, and now you will have to live with it.”
“Don’t be stupid, Gigi, you need me. You’re not so special. You’re just a spoiled brat. You got it all handed to you because of who your parents are.”
His words are an assault on my soul. He of all people knows how I feel about being called privileged because of them. I don’t even think, something inside me just snaps, and I slap him across his pretty face as hard as I can. My palm stings like a bitch, and I try to shake off the pain. But when I look back at his surprised face with a red welt showing up already, the pain is worth it. “Fuck off,” I tell him, so done with this conversation and being nice.
His grip on my arm tightens, and he glares back at me with an anger I haven’t seen before. I try to pull away from him as panic settles in. Before I can think of how to escape him, I feel a body brush up against my side.
“She told you to back off,” a voice says from next to me. It has a Southern edge to it, and I glance over to see the handsome stranger I noticed looking my way earlier. He came to my rescue.
Dallas drops his grip on me, moving toward the man. “Who the fuck are you?” he snarls, sizing him up. He’s braver than he should be against a guy standing a good couple of inches taller than him.
“The guy I’m seeing,” I blurt out without even thinking. I smile toward the guy who came to my rescue, hoping he won’t freak out. But instead, the stranger gives me a little smirk like he’s happy to play along. Thank God. It could have been all kinds of humiliating if he wasn’t.
Dallas looks him over, and I can see him work out that this guy is massive and rugged-looking. Compared to his slight athletic build, he could knock him flat in a heartbeat. “Bullshit, there is no way you moved on from me that quickly,” he mutters, like he’s surprised I could get anyone else.
The stranger wraps a protective arm around my waist and pulls me into his body. He’s warm and smells clean and fresh with a hint of expensive aftershave. I can’t help the flutter it ignites in me. I don’t know whether it’s the gallantry or just the fact I find him so damn attractive, but it’s something. I rest my head against his chest, playing my part. “She did. And now you need to run along, little boy. Before I make you,” he growls like he really means it.
Dallas’s eyes flick between us rapidly as he tries to piece together this picture. “We will talk about this later, Gigi,” he mutters under his breath, then storms off like the drama queen he is. What he doesn’t know is I don’t plan on sticking around long enough for us to have that conversation. That interaction was the last straw. I need a break from this place, my mind is now one hundred percent made up.
When he’s out of eyesight, I slip out of the stranger’s hold, gazing up at him. There is a warmth in his eyes I like. “Thank you for that. He’s had too much to drink and wasn’t listening to me,” I say, so appreciative he even noticed I was in trouble.
“I could see. An ex?” He raises an unimpressed brow.
“Ex-boyfriend, ex-cast mate.” I shrug. “A mistake wanting a second chance.” I shudder at the thought. “I’m Gigi,” I introduce myself, smiling warmly as I hold out my hand for him to shake. He places his large hand in mine, and I feel that jolt of energy again. I can’t for the life of me understand it, but whatever it is, I like it. I get the feeling I should stick around a little longer and find out what my Southern hero’s story is. I mean, he did just save me and all that. I should offer him a drink or something to thank him.
“Brody. I hear you’re a big star around here. My uncle over there saw your show last week and said you’re incredible.”
I look to where he’s pointing to see a well-dressed man in a gray suit, probably in his mid-forties, and he offers a wave. I wave back with a polite smile, just like my mother taught me. “That’s nice of him to say,” I say, feeling the ping of disappointment. He wanted to come over here because of who I am. I shouldn’t be surprised. “So, you’re here with him tonight?”
“It’s my last night in New York for a while. We were having a drink before I leave,” he says, sounding down about it.
“Oh, that’s nice. I was going to offer you a drink to say thank you, but maybe I should let you get back to him,” I offer, not really ready for him to leave but feeling bad I have interrupted his night with Dallas dramatics.
“He’s about to head home. He’s old and needs his beauty sleep, his words not mine.” He chuckles. “I was coming over to ask you if you wanted to join me for a drink. That was before I saw you slap the asshole.”
I smirk, still not believing I just slapped Dallas. I’m actually proud of myself. And a lot excited he was already coming over to ask me to join him for a drink. “That sounds nice.” A drink with a sexy Southern stranger could be just what I need tonight. Get me out of the funk I’ve been in.
“Champagne again?” he asks.
“No, I’ll have whatever it was you were having. Looks a lot more appetizing.” I laugh, relaxing.
He leans over the bar and orders two bourbons on the rocks, while I text Cassie to let her know to go home without me. She looks over and smiles cheekily when she sees who I’m standing with. I give her a little wave, and she blows me a kiss. A message comes back from her telling me to be careful and call her in the morning. I’m going to miss her like crazy if I do decide to leave.
Brody passes me my drink, and I follow him through the bar to a quiet table, thankfully away from the rest of our crew.
His dark eyes are on me, making my cheeks heat again. I sip my drink, comfortable in the silence between us. I get the impression he’s not a big talker, and I can’t stop looking at him long enough to string a sentence together. He’s so damn fine, with broad shoulders and deep brown eyes that stare right into my soul. Now that we’re this close to each other, I can see he’s a little older than me, maybe mid-thirties. His hair is dark, longer on top but trimmed neatly on the sides. I can’t help but wonder what the story is behind his rugged exterior. His suit, while it fits him like a glove, looks out of place. Like there is so much more to him than just another charming big-city billionaire.
His dark eyes are ablaze with desire that makes me grab my drink and chug a mouthful, trying to cool off the fire he has ignited inside me. They roam down my body. “That dress, it’s very…”
“Eye-catching, I know.” I laugh nervously. I’m not even sure why, but all of a sudden, under his gaze I feel all lit up inside. “You’d think since I hate being noticed, I would wear something more inconspicuous, but I love a fun costume, even when I’m not on stage. I just had to wear it for my last night with our crew.”
“You wear it well.” He takes a drink, his eyes not leaving me for a second. “How are you a stage performer who doesn’t like attention?”
“My mom was an actress, a brilliant one, and my dad’s a producer. I was born into this industry.” I shrug. “But it doesn’t fit me. I’m thinking of a change.” I smile, feeling hopeful.
“What will you do?” he asks, looking genuinely interested.
I take my drink, holding it in both hands and staring into the amber liquid, hoping it might show me the answers I’m looking for, just like a tea reader would with tea leaves. But I get nothing. I return my attention to Brody. “That is the question of the night. Something different, away from my parents and the spotlight. Maybe I’ll go work on an apple farm picking fruit.” I laugh, and Brody looks just as amused at the idea of me on a farm. I get it, I don’t look like the type to be in rubber boots and a flannel shirt, sweating in the sun, but anything has to be better than feeling like I’m suffocating. “I really have no idea.”
“You’re young, you still have time to make up your mind.”
“I guess. My parents sure are going to kill me. They have invested so much money in me, hoping I would turn out just like them, but I need a break. I feel trapped here and like I have to escape.” I exhale heavily. “That probably sounds so silly.”
He takes my hand in his. “No, it doesn’t. Parents don’t always know what’s best for us, they just think they do.”
“What do you do?” I ask, hoping for some insight into who this guy is. I feel like we have been talking about me since he rescued me, and I know very little about him. Other than how much I want to run my hands through the stubble of his beard as he kisses me. I’m not the kind of girl who has random hookups with strangers; in fact, until tonight, I have never even contemplated the idea, but this guy has my body practically begging to be taken by him.
He looks uncomfortable by my question. “For the next twelve months I’m running a family business back home,” he answers, still making it sound so mysterious.
“Oh, that sounds like a lot of responsibility.” I guess. I have no idea what it would be like. I finish the last slither of my drink and place it on the table in front of me. “You don’t want to talk shop, do you.”
He pulls me toward him a little closer and drops his lips to my ear. “No. I had something else in mind.” The way he says it sends butterflies racing around my entire body. I want something else with him as well. He’s the hottest guy I have ever seen, and oh my God, the way he looks at me, the heat in his eyes makes me want to drop to my knees at his feet and do whatever dirty thing he suggests. This is so unlike me, but for once, I don’t care. I want a reckless night of fun with a stranger I’ll never see again. Tonight can be the start of my new life. Gigi the Broadway star, too scared to really live her life, testing out Gisele the woman leaving the old me behind and living on gut feelings, just seeing where that takes me.
I swallow the lump in my throat, trying to find the confidence to ask for what I want.
“Gigi, I’m not one to beat around the bush. You want to get out of here?”
I’m not used to a guy being so forward with me, especially one I just met. But I want this. “I like that idea.” I stand from my seat, and he takes my hand in his, walking with me out of the bar. I don’t see Dallas around, and I’m grateful I can avoid any more awkwardness.
“Where are you staying?”
He motions to the hotel across the road. “We came for a drink here tonight because it was close.”
“Here I was thinking you chose this bar because you knew there was a damsel in distress waiting for you inside.” I laugh at my own joke.
He turns to me, running a hand over my face. He’s not laughing; he looks serious. His hands are big and rough, but he’s so gentle. Something about the way he’s looking at me sucks the air from my lungs and the words from my lips. I’m left staring back up at him, waiting for him to make the next move because I’m no longer able to control my own body. “That’s exactly why I came here tonight. I’m here to rescue you,” he says, pulling my face to his and kissing me with a desperation I didn’t expect. But I feel it too, this need to have his skin on mine.
I get lost in the moment, and the noise of the traffic and people disappear. It’s just me and him, and his hand on my waist and my hand in his hair as he parts my lips, his tongue sweeping through my open mouth. My heart hammers in my chest. I think I have just made the best decision of my life, to start following my instincts, because if they all lead to something as amazing as this kiss, my life is about to change for the better.